Bottle-washing machine.



A. J. RICE.v

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1907. RENEWED OCT-7.1916.

1,1 6A9.. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

atfozmm o A. L'RlCE.

BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.9. 1907. RENEWED OCT. 7.1916.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Mn EM A. J. RI CE. BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9,1907- RENEWED OCT. 71 I916- 16 96.. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 i RICE, or BUrrALo-nEw'Y can, assrenoawe are]: & ADAMS, A

COI E'ARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF ALBERT J. RICE AND CHARLES S. ADAMS, OF

BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

.norrnn-wasnme MACHINE.

miaiae.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented lBeb. 2o, 1% 7.

Application filed November a, 1907, Seria1No.401,453. Renewed October 7, 191's. Serial no. 124,429.

To all'wkom it may concern."

' lBe-it known that- I, ALBERT JJRICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in: the county of Erie. and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Washing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,'. and exactdescription of the invention, such' as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make'and usethe same.

The invention relates to apparatus for cleaning and sterilizing bottles and the like,

and belongs, generally, to the class of apparatus described in Letters Patent -No.

5 764,222, dated July-5, 1904, employing the in Letters Patent No.

method described 745,752, dated December 1, 1903, grantedto Charles S. Adams and myself. The object form of apparatus of the invention is to provide an improved for the purpose mentioned, involving means whereby bottles of different sizes may bewashed in one machine through the cooperation of multiple series of jet pipes arranged in sets, the jet orifims of each ,series being spaced to forcibly project streams of water into the which are held in approprlate cases or crates, termittently moved longitudinally of the machine above; The invention also contemplates the'provision; of an improved form of bottle carrying case or crate involving means for supporting and separating the bottles and jet nozzles or pipes which pass "freely into the bottles, the rims of the bottle mouths being lifted sufficiently above the supports of the jet nozzles to permit the washing fluid to escape freely. These and other features of the invention will appear more particularly in the accompanying drawings, and in the annexed specification.

In the. drawings mouths of bottles,

Figure l is a side elevation of the washing apparatus, the cover being shown inof the apparatus automatically and in- 8 and 10 which enter tanks 3 -fluid therein at the before referred to, is divided by cross parbottles; the bottle-carry- .titions into separate compartments. The

number of said separate compartments is to be determined by the character of the washing operation, and theinvention contemplates the provision ofan appropriate number of compartments to accomplish the purpose desired'in the best possible manner.'. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings said trough 1 is di vided into two compartments, 2 and 3- respectively, by cross partition 4, which partit1on is provided with an orifice 5 near the top to establish communication between the two compartments. Above the trough 1 of the apparatus is a transverse vertical cross secthere is disposed a horizontal trackwayco'n' sisting of parallel-an if desired, be provi ed with rollers interspersed at appropriate distances to provide 'earing for the boXesor crates containing the bottles, as said boxes or crates are moved longitudinally along the trackway. The

trough may be conveniently covered by a hood orenvelop 70, to prevent the washing fluid being thrown outside of the apparatus during the intervals of moving the boxes or crates 'to position over the'jet pipes.-

A pipe 7 leading from the boiler or other le-irons 6, which may,

source of hot water supply has two branches and 2 respectively, to supply the washing fluid to s tanks trolled by valves 9 and 11 respectively. The steam coil '12 is located in tank 3 for the purpose of maintaining the water or washing desired temperature.

and said branches 8 and 10 are con-' two rotary pumps 14 and14,

Located at one side of the trough 1 are mounted on shaft and driven by pulleys 31, and have ing suction pipes connected with the respective tanks 2 and 3, and having discharge pipes 13 and 13 connected respectively with manifolds or multiple sets of jetpipes. The apparatus as thus far described is substantiallythe same as that shown in the patents .hereinbefore referred to.

being arranged to cotiperate with three rows act registry with the proper j of four bottles each. From pipe 18 extend two pipes 17, provided with jet orifices 21, arranged to coiiperate with two rows of three bottles each. The pipes 16' and 17' are, as shown, conveniently arranged in parallel relation just below the trackway 6. The particular number and arrangement of the jet pipes will, of course, depend upon the size of the apparatus and the size and number of the bottles to be washed and the specific arrangements just referred to are mere typical examples, it being understood that the apparatus may be constructed to operate upon any number of bottles in any desired arrangement in suitable carrying cases or crates.

Duplicate sets of jet pipes are arranged in the respective compartments or tanks 2 and 3 and are so disposed therein that the bot- .tles carried in the crateswill come into ex-' et orifices in said pipes as the said crates are intermittently advanced through the machine in regular order.

Special means are provided for advancing the crates in series along the trackway 6, and for stopping the advance of the series of crates at proper intervals along said trackway and for an appropriate length of time to effect the washing operation. Said means consists of slides 40 mounted in slots in the vertical flanges of the track section 6, at the forward end of the machine, which slides are connected by a cross bar 41, said slides and cross bar constituting a follower which engages the lower edge of the foremost box and forces the same, together with all of the boxes ahead of it, along the trackway a distance equal to the length of a single box. Intermittent reciprocatory motion is imparted to the slides 40 by means of the conjet pipes contact with necting rods 39, which .are operated by cranks 38 on shaft 36, which is journaled in brackets 37, secured to the end of the machine. Intermittent rotary motion is imparted to shaft 36 by means of mutilated pinions 35, secured to the respective ends of said shaft, which pinions are adapted to be engaged by the teeth of a mutilated gear 34, which latter has one-half of its periphery smooth, to cooperate with a concave surface on pinion 35 to prevent the latter being turned accidentally when the teeth of the gear and pinion are out of mesh, the smooth portions of the respective gears constituting a stop for the movement which efiects reciprocation'of the slides 40. Motion is imparted to gear 34 by a worm gearing 32 and 33, which is operated from shaft-30, driven by pulley 30" which takes its power from a suitable drive shaft.

The boxes or crates in which the bottles are contained, and which constitute an important element of my invention are designed with special reference to general sanitary conditions and facility and economy of operation. Each of said crates conveniently consists of an open framework, preferably made of galvanized metal, which may be readily cleansed and sterilized, and which maintains its proper shape with very little wear under the most severe conditions of operation. Said crate 50 consists of longitudinal top members 51, formed of angle-irons,

transverse topmembers 52 and correspondingly arranged intermediate members 54 and 53, together with reversely arranged angle-iron bottom pieces 66 and transverse bottom members 62', the several rectangular frames thus formed being connected by stay bolts 55, passed through the corners of the frames with suitable spacing sleeves 56 and 57 to hold the frames at appropriate distances and to form a skeleton box or crate. Secured to the longitudinal bottom members 66 are transverse castings 64 which are conveniently formed with properly spaced nipples 62 to which are connected the upwardly extending jet pipes 63. Between the members of the upper frame extend cross wires 58 and 59 which are spaced to engage the sides of bottles inserted mouth downward in the crate and hold them in position against lateral movement. Arranged between the members of the intermediate frame are a series of cross wires 60 and 61 which are spaced so as to surround the necks of the bottles and support the bottles by their shoulders, so that the bottle mouths extend downward and surround the respective 63,'-without, however, coming in the cross bars 64 or nipples 62 thereof.

It will be understood that these crates are to be made of appropriate sizes to coiiperate with the trackway 6 mounted above the -trough 1 and that the number of jet pipes lieved that the operation 63 and cross wires. carried by said crates will depend upon the size and number of the bot tles to be carried by said crate.

From the foregoing description it is .be-

of the apparatus will be clear, but briefly described said operation, taken in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, is as follows: Assuming that the number of bottles in each crate is 12, arranged in 3 rows of 4 bottles each, valves 19 and 19 are opened and valves 20 and 20 are closed,- which enables pumps 14 and 14 to force 12 jets of water, from each set of pipes 16 and 16. ssuming that a crate is located directly over the respective sets of pipes 16 and .16 the jets of water leaving thenozzles 21 in said sets of pipes are projected forcibly through the jet pipes 63 in the crates into the bottles after which the water escapes from the inverted mouths of the bottles and runs back into the tanks. It will be assumed of course, that the temperature of the water in the respective tanks is regulated in accordance with the operation of the apparatus, as described in the patents heretofore referred to. The shaft 30 operated by pulley 30" is'driven continuously and in turn drives mutilated gear 34 continuously.

As the latter, rotates it will be noted that the smoothportion of its periphery lying contiguous to the smooth portion of gear 35 prevents any movement of the latter, so that the crates are accurately held in their adjusted position on the trackway to admit of the jets being forced directly into the bottles. After said gear 34 is revolved through I 180, the teeth on one-half of its periphery come into mesh with the teeth on pinion 35 .and cause the latter to drive shaft 36 through substantially one revolution, thereby causing the follower, consisting of slides 40 and tie-rod 41, to be advanced to the end of the trackway 6 during the first half of the revolution of said shaft 36, when a crate is placed in position and then to move said crate, together with all of the crates on the trackway ahead of it, forward along said so trackway during the other half of the revorows of 3 lution of said shaft, until the smooth portions of the gear 34 and pinion 35 again come into mesh, when the advance of the vseries'of crates is stopped, as before.

Should it be' desired to operate upon larger bottles in the same machine, say for example, upon six bottles contained in 2 bottles each in a crate, the supply of washing fluid to pipes 15 and respondingly, valves 20 and 20 are opened to admit of water being forced by the pumps 14 and 14 into the sets of jet pipes 17 and 17, the jet orifices of which are 15 is shut off by means of valves 19 and 19', and, cor-- 1. An apparatus for cleaning bottles and the like, comprising a trough, pipes in said trough having a series of jet orifices, a trackway over said trough, and a box or crate adapted to hold the bottles in inverted position and to pass along said trackway over the trough, said box or crate having a se: ries of jet nozzles or tubes extending into the bottles and adapted to register with the jet orifices in said pipes.

2. An apparatus for cleaning bottles and the like, comprising a trough, pipes in said trough having a series of jet orifices, a trackway over said trough, a box or crate adapted to hold the bottles in inverted position and to pass along said trackway over the trough,

. said box or crate having a series of.jet nozzles or tubes extending into the bottles and adapted toregister with the jet orifices in said moving said "boxes or crates along said trackway. I

A crate for bottle washing machines, comprising a frame, cross bars to separate pipes, and means for intermittently and support the bottles, and jet nozzles rled by cross bars, below the bottles, said nozzles loosely entering the bottles to permit the washing fluid to escape freely.

5. A crate for bottle washing machines, comprising a skeleton frame, cross bars to separate and support the bottles, cross bars 1n the lower portion of said frame at a distance to clear the bottle mouths, zles carried by said lowerbars bottle fnouths.

6. In bottle washing apparatus, a stationary series of jet-nozzles and a bottlecarrier having a series of secondary jet-nozzles or tubes adapted to support and project into bottles placed thereon in inverted position. I

7. In bottle washing apparatus, a stationary series of jet-nozzles, a plurality of bottle carriers each having. a series of secondary jet nozzles or tubes adapted to support and project into bottles placed thereon in inverted position, and mechanism for inand jet noztcrmittently advancing the carriers tolbring them successively into position with their secondary jet-nozzles or tubes above the stationary j et-nozzles.

8 In bottle washing apparatus, a plurality of stationary series of jet-nozzles, a bottle carrier having a series of secondary jet-nozzles or tubes adapted to support and to enter the project into bottles placed thereon in inverted position, tently advanc and mechanism for intermitmg the earner to bring it into successive posltions with its secondary noz 5 z les or tubes above the several senes of stationary 1et-nozzles.

,In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT JOSIAH RICE,

Witnesses:

JOHN C. PENNIE, LAURA B. PENFIELD. 

